Lock



May 8 1934- E. B. STONE ET Al. 1,957,859

LOCK

Filed Sept. 29, 1932 Patented May 8, 1934 LOCK Elmer-B. Stone andLouis M.Dyson,fNe w Britain,

Conn., assignors Yto The American Hardware Corporation, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 29, 1932,'Se1ial N0.`6'35,'368

Claims.

Our invention relates to that type o'f locks which, although not limited in their use, are particularly adapted for use in connection with suit cases and similar receptacles, and an Aobject of our invention, among others, is the production of a lock of this type that shall be simple in construction andneat in appearance; and a further object Yof the invention is to provide a lock of this type that-shall be particularly eective in operation; and a further object of the invention is the provision vof a lock having blind latch releasing mechanism.

One form of a lock embodying our invention and in the construction and use 'of which the `objects herein set out, as Well as others,'may be tions.

Figure 7 isa similar vieW but showing the parts in unlocked and 'released positions.

In the accompanying drawing the numeral 8 indicates the lock case of our improved lock which is preferably of rectangular shape and 9 denotes the latch case, both of these cases being similar in shape but the latch case being shown a little shorter than the lock case. In the particular form shown herein these are adapted for attachment as to the body 10 and cover 11 of a suit case or similar receptacle as by means of fastenings extended through holes 12 in the body and cover.

A latch engaging lever 13 is pivotally mounted Within the case 8, a spring 14 normally forcing the latch engaging lever to its engaged position, and as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. A lever locking bolt 15, shown in its locking position in dotted lines in Fig. 6, is slidably mounted in the case with its end adapted to be positioned opposite the end of the lever 13 to prevent swinging movement of the latter. A tumbler 16 is pivotally mounted in the case for engagement by a key inserted through a key hole 17, the tumbler having a downturned dog 18 that is normally in the path of movement of a lug 19 projecting from the bolt l5 and which dogs the movement of the said bolt in opposite directions when the parts are in their locked and semi-locked positions.

To illustrate, a key being inserted in the hole 1'7 the key bit engaging the curved edge 20 of the tumbler moves the dog 1S from the path of the lug 19, and the bit vof the key then engaging the notch 21 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6) moves the bolt into the locking position shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 6. After the key releases the tumbler 16 the spring 22 thereof returns the tumbler to its normal position while the locking bolt remains in its locking position. In a reverse movement of the key and a reversal of operations Vof theparts, as will be understood, the bolt is moved to its unlocked position as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, and the dog 18 being on the opposite side of the lug 19, lengthwise movement of the bolt is prevented, that is, the bolt by a jarring or other operation, Will not be moved to its locking position. The bolt is Athereby held in its unlocking position so that the parts may be freely operated for locking and unlocking action to be hereinafter described.

A latch arm 23 is slidably mounted in the latch case 9, this latch arm being at the end of a latch bolt 24 having aprojecti'ng end serving as a finger piece 25 accessible at the end of the latch case opposite the latch arm 23. A spring 26 operates to force the latch arm to its unlocked position.

In order that the parts of the lock may be freely operated When such parts are in a latched condition, that is, with the locking bolt 15 in its unlocking position, means are provided for actuating the latch engaging lever 13 to release it from the latch arm 23, releasing means being provided that are not readily perceptible to one not acquainted With such. 'Io effect this result a releasing finger piece 27 is formed on the end of the lever 13 opposite the nose 28 which engages the latch arm 23, and this linger piece is shaped to conform to the contour of the lock case 8 so that When the parts are in locked engagement the shape of the latch case is not affected, and after the latch lever is moved to its disengaged position, as shown in Fig. 7, as being released by pressure as of the nger or thumb, the spring 14 will promptly return it to its locked position thereby restoring the shape of the lock case.

'Ihe finger piece 27 is roughened, as by grooves, to facilitate its operation, and in order to perfect the deception these grooves and ribs arer made to harmonize with ribbed strips 29 extending along opposite sides of the lock and latch cases, providing an ornamental finish therefor.

It will be noted that when the parts are in their locked positions a key Will be required for locking the latch engaging lever 13 but this action of the key will not disengage the latch lever nose 28 from the latch arm 23, the parts being novv in their latched condition. Said lever may noW be disengaged from the latch arm 23 by operation of the releasing nger piece 27 whereupon the bolt 2e will be forced to unlocking position by its spring 26, and the latch bolt engaging lever 13 will immediately return to its engaging position When pressure of the finger or thumb is released. It being now desired to engage the latch bolt and latch lever, so as to secure the cover to the body of the receptacle, said cover is closed against the body, and the ringer piece 25 is pressed to force the latch arm 23 into the opening in the edge of the lock case 8 and engage said latch arm with the nose 28 of the latch lever 13, which parts may be readily disengaged as hereinbefore described. With the locking bolt 25 engaged with the latch lever 13 just described the parts are restored to their latched condition and the key may novv be employed to lock the parts.

It will be noted, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5,

Ythat the nger piece 25 is in the form of a pad which is extended backwardly and overlies the outer front surface of the latch case 9, thereby providing a relatively broad expanse of surface very readily accessible for engagement by the iingers and thumb for operation and Without increasing the size of the device.

In accordance With the provisions of the patent statutes We have described the principles of operation of our invention together with the device which we noW consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but We desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A lock comprising a lock case and a latch case, a reciprocatory latch bolt within the latch case, a lever Within the lock case having a latch bolt engaging nose and a portion rigid With said nose to form a closure for an opening in the lock case, a reciprocatory lock bolt in the lock case adapted to obstruct movement of said closure within said opening, and means for releasing said lock bolt from the lever.

2. A lock comprising a lock case and a latch case, a reciprocatory latch bolt Within the latch case, a lever Within the lock case having a latch bolt engaging nose and a portion rigid with said nose to normally conform to and form a closure portion of the lock case, a reciprocatory lock bolt in the lock case adapted to obstruct movement of said closure within said opening, and means for releasing said lock bolt from the lever.

3. A lock comprising a lock case and a latch case, a reciprocatory latch bolt Within the latch case, a lever within the lock case adapted to engage the latch bolt, one section of said lever normally forming an edge of the lock case, a reciprocatory lock bolt in the lock case adapted to obstruct movement of the said lever and thereby to prevent movement of said lock caseV forming edge of the lever, and means for releasing said lock bolt from the lever.

4. A lock comprising a lock case and a latch case, a reciprocatory latch bolt Within the latch case, a lever within the lock case adapted to engage the latch bolt, means integral with said lever and normally forming a corner cf the lock case, a reciprocatory lock bolt in the lock case adapted to obstruct movement of the said lever and thereby to prevent movement of said lock case corner lforming means, and means for releasing said lock bolt from the lever.

5. A lock comprising a lock case and a latch case, a reciprocatory latch bolt Within the latch case, a lever Within the lock case having one end adapted to engage the latch bolt and the other end normally forming a corner of the lock case, a reciprocatory lock bolt in the lock case adapted to obstruct movement of the said lever and thereby to prevent movement of said lock case `forming corner end of said lever, and a key actuated tumbler for releasing said lock bolt from the lever.

ELMER B. STONE. LOUIS M. DYSON. 

